What is handicapping? In horse racing, handicapping refers to the method of compensation, which is given to different horses so that they can have equal chances of winning. This is done by giving the better horses more weight to carry as compared to the poorer horses. Most owners find this the only way to win races when they are constantly pressured by other top horses.

Determining how each horse is handicapped requires a certain process. This process includes comparing the Official Rating of each horse to find their ranking. To obtain an official rating, the horse has to fulfil certain conditions; winning at least once in their career or losing three times but finishing at least once in the first six positions. If the horse does not fulfil these conditions, it will have to continue racing until it succeeds.

Once a horse has its official rating, it will determine the amount of weight it has to carry in a handicapped race. This rate is calculated in terms of pounds, which means a lower rating horse will carry a lighter weight compared to a higher rating horse. However, future horse racing results will also affect the rating of the horse.